Obama pledges support amid California drought

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is telling California's governor that the federal government will do what's necessary to help with a historic drought afflicting the state.

Obama called Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday for an update on the drought. California is in its third dry year and 17 communities are in danger of running out of water within four months.

The White House says Obama told Brown that the federal government will keep working to support California's response to the drought. Obama told the governor he was concerned about the impact of the drought on California's citizens, economy and environment.

The White House says the National Drought Resilience Partnership is coordinating the federal response. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Agriculture Department are involved in the effort.